Why it's likely that the ladies actually are leaving the show despite their comments.

Hours after it was reported that they were getting fired from The Real Housewives of New York City, Jill Zarin and Alex McCord rushed to deny rumors that they wouldn't be returning for season 5 of the Bravo reality show, insisting that they were still in negotiations with the network and that nothing was final.

But with the web buzzing with glee at the mere hint that Bravo execs were making big changes to the cast, those contract negotiations may not end well for the ladies.

So who to believe - a few unnamed sources, or the Housewives themselves?

Here's what we know:

While it's perfectly within the realm of possibility that Jill, Alex, Kelly, and Cindy have not, in fact, been officially released from the show, it's more likely that they're definitely on their way out; they just haven't gotten the memo yet.

Months ago there were already not so quiet whispers about the network's desire to re-cast the show entirely, unhappy with the faltering ratings that looked even worse when compared to the mega-successful premiere of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

The over-hyped fourth season of the show was panned by fans after supposedly being delayed to give The Real Housewives of Miami a better rollout (though if you saw RHOM, you know better than to believe that one). However, insiders say that the the real reason behind the show's postponement was a request from Bravo that several scenes be re-shot because they were too boring.

Considering that the network rushed to keep the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' season 2 premiere date after Russell Armstrong's suicide, whatever the reason, it obviously wasn't a good sign.

And after the 2-part reunion special that had everyone begging Andy Cohen to put the cackling "chicken heads" (a la Cindy Barshop) out of their misery, it's more surprising to hear that the show itself is returning for season 5 than anything else.

So regardless of the many statements that are sure to be released in the coming days, the harsh reality that Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, and the other 'wives must come to grips with is that while they still may have some clout in their social circles, in the entertainment world, it's the little people - the viewers - that hold most of the power. In other words, whether or not the ladies return to Bravo for another season is really up to us.

Shayla C. Perry is a freelance journalist based in New York. In addition to interviewing some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, and covering the latest in celebrity news & gossip, her forte (read: obsession) is examining the sensationalism, gall, and sheer genius of reality TV.